Representatives from the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and other sectors pose for a photo Monday at the launch ceremony of the Pan-Civic Committee for the Honam Semiconductor Cluster at the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry. [Provided by the South Jeolla-Gwangju Integrated Special City. Redistribution and DB prohibited]
Representatives from the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and other sectors pose for a photo Monday at the launch ceremony of the Pan-Civic Committee for the Honam Semiconductor Cluster at the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry. [Provided by the South Jeolla-Gwangju Integrated Special City. Redistribution and DB prohibited]

"This is the biggest priority project our region has ever seen. Let us stand united and make it happen."

A pan-civic committee bringing together more than 200 representatives from the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), religious groups and other sectors held its launch ceremony Monday at the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The launch marks the formal start of a campaign to revive the region's sluggish economy by establishing a semiconductor cluster for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix near the Gwangju military airfield.

The committee adopted a joint declaration and laid out eight core tasks: building public consensus, nurturing talent, promoting labor-management cooperation, laying infrastructure, expanding investment, creating jobs, strengthening regional collaboration and pursuing future growth.

Han Sang-won, chairman of the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said in his opening remarks that the semiconductor cluster represented "a precious opportunity we must not let slip," adding that it would allow "our children to nurture their dreams and hopes right here in their hometown." He called on the community to "join forces with one heart to make South Jeolla Province and Gwangju a business-friendly region and a hub of future industries."

Min Hyeong-bae, mayor of the South Jeolla-Gwangju Integrated Special City, said the administration would provide full support to ensure government processes keep pace with corporate investment timelines, and pledged to do everything possible to turn "this transformative opportunity into tangible success."


sij@heraldcorp.com